Amazon recalls cosmetics with illegal levels of mercury after complaint

Amazon announced Friday that it has recalled all cosmetic products with illegal levels of mercury following the publication of a report by the Zero Mercury Working Group , which denounced the sale of dangerous items in more than 23 countries , especially in regions of the global south.

The company stated that it requires all products on its platform to comply with laws, regulations, and internal policies , and that it has proactive measures in place to prevent the offering of suspicious or prohibited products. "If any issues are detected, we act quickly, including removing any problematic products," Amazon emphasized.

The Zero Mercury Working Group report, published on October 15 , revealed that of 31 creams tested in accredited laboratories in the European Union and the United States, 25 contained mercury concentrations thousands of times higher than the legal limit of 1 ppm , violating both national regulations and the international “zero mercury” standard of the Minamata Convention.

Sofía Chávez Arce, general director of Casa Cem México , criticized the fact that consumers in countries in the global south are treated as “second-class customers” and said Amazon’s double standards are unacceptable .

The study included purchases made this year in the United States, France, Belgium, India, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates , and came ahead of the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-6) .

Amazon reaffirmed its commitment to protecting customers and brands by ensuring that all of the identified products have been removed from sale .